Travel Diaries and Journals

Ascention

the boat. we caught about 2 dozen sick Cod Skip Jack & red fish. two were caught by hand by one of the sailors & Ben caught a very lazy eel which was exchanged to Capt McDowl for two Cod. pulled to the ship about 9. lost the rudder & steered with a dagg[e]er went on shore after breakfast with Mrs. R. Payne Mrs. P. Mrs. W. had a little difficulty in landing. Mrs. R. dropped her purse in the surf & lost it Coy [contained] £5 some shillings. we to the store Capt. Elliot opman's[?] asked us to his house. Walked at 12 ocl to the burial ground, Chapel & turtle pond. very hot but Sun not dealy Mrs. R. caught a parrot. I went down & got a Hip Ascention Sand. great heat off the Sand burnt my hip pitching it into the boat went to

At Sea

have been very quiet all day. P & I took possession of couch last night to smoke cheroots. Passage obstructed A bird resembling a swallow kept flying round the Ship last evg.

Sunday June 19th. 1859.

Passed 4 vessels during the night & a Im:[?] schooner supposed to be a steamer No signals British at dinner time a Bremen 3 masted Schooner & a full rigged ship to leeward the former spoke. Ensign & 175 number. fine day with light breeze from mg.

Monday June 20th. 1859.

Woke up this mg. at 6 went on deck. fine breeze. Walking along but a good deal westing. day rather cloudy Skinner fell off the main yard but did not hurt himself saved by buttlines. Therm: 81. 9.19. 24.25. light wind at 12

On bd. "Ivanhoe"

Tuesday June 21st. 1859.

Light NE breeze today. done very little northing. 26 miles N.W. 1/2 N. a ship in sight Astern. Another bound to the southward passed a long way of[f] this Mg. a large shoal of porpoises passed aster last evg. Making very slow progress as yet throught the trades. Therm. 80 1/2

Wednesday June 22nd. 1859.

Fine Clear day warm light wind done 180 miles N. by W. made bad course. Therm 81

Thursday June 23rd. 1859

Strong breeze today at N.E. made a fine run[?] since yesterday 121 miles northing. saw a Schooner outward bound this evg. weather cool. Capt. laid up all day. 3 rats caught in the trap in the after Cabin last night escaped[?]

on bd. "Ivanhoe"

than yeasterday. Sargossa weed floating past this forenoon. long twighlight dark at 1/2 past 7 last night. A Spanish brig & barque passed yesterday the former had no flags. A Sim. vessel in sight to leeward just now a long way off. A Bo Cham: with Blair & a new hat with Capt. that we are not in the Downs on the 18th. July Therm 75

Tuesday June 28th. 1859.

Fine day with a fine breeze. got to the northward of the Line today. fishing for Sargass weed today . Therm 71½

Wednesday June 29th. 1859.

Fishing for Sargasso weed Caught none. dashing along with a fine breeze. done nearly 3 degrees northing. taking some obs. for Lat every day Correctly A flying fish came on bd. right before last squall at 8 last night frightened Mrs. P

at Sea

us Dr. Prince Wales & 2 mates on bd. with us. Midshipmen pulling

Satruday July 16th. 1859

After 12 today laying our Course with light Air Stunsails at 3 ocl. weather pleasant though warm. 4 vessels in sight to leeward. Therm 75°. fish in swarms about. Albecore & a shark went on the Dolphin Strike with Harpoon caught none

Sunday July 17th. 1859

Light air all day. fair fine day & warm inumerable swarms of fish about 14 miles astern

Monday July 18th. 1859.

The day we expected to be in England not yet at the western islands fish still continue about in swarms struck one today with the harpoon Albecore. 3 more brought on bd. Payne 2 with

on bd. ship "Ivanhoe"

hook. fine breeze sprung up today. no ships in sight. Therm 75°

Tuesday July 19th. 1859.

Fishing all day. Caught one Albecore. one struck by Biscoe 75lbs. weight done 80 miles to day.

Wednesday July 20th. 1859.

105 miles today. fishing today tried[?] on the dolphin striker caught none. enormous quantities of Albecore in pursuit of guard fish a whaler bore down to speak us last night could not come up. 2 ships in sight today. Therm 74°

Thursday July 21st. 1859.

Caught 2 fish this mg. at six 3rd. one broke hook (foul line) still immense quantities of fish about. thick & foggy today. Therm 72°

at Sea

Friday July 22nd. 1859.

Thick & foggy. fish about in thousands. taking easily but all hooks broken Caught 5 after dinner yesterday Therm 68° 900 miles from England

Saturday July 23rd. 1859.

Thick & foggy drizzaling[?] rain regular Channel weather the Capt. says. A ship passed close bound southward this Mg. Therm 68°. Fish all left

Sunday July 24th. 1859.

Foggy this mg. but cleared off & left a fine clear day. got a good obs. first time for 4 days. 45° 4° N. a French Ship in sight bound same way as ourselves. 680 miles from the Lizard. a fine breeze tonight & fully expect to reach The Downs by next Sunday or before. weather cool & pleasant in the

==Channel. on bd. ship "Ivanhoe''==

rounding the N. Foreland. blowing stiff. steamer a long way astern. Can see the feilds shorn on shore. Shorthening sail now & hauling on the wind. Anchored in Margate Roads about 6. a boat sailing party passed under the Stern. Mrs. R. Mrs. W. the Capt. I & the children all sitting talking with the town of Margate in sight turned in between 9 & 10

Tuesday August 2nd. 1859.

Got under weigh about 7 this Mg. Woke by the men singing up the Anchor more cheerily than usual. Steamer took us in tow we moved along very slowly passed the goodwin sands a great number of Col[l]iers about Ships at Ball Practice of[f] Sheerness entered London River about 2

River Thames

& got land again on both sides of us. very tedious getting up the steamer did not tow us well the Coasts open out more & Mrs. W. thinks that England is rather pretty after all. Anchored at Gravesend about 4 ocl got two boats to take us Ashore. promised to see the ladies to London [underscored:Otheu ] with us Mrs. W & Children quite thunderstruck with ships & people. went to Railway Station no train to London for 1½ hours Walked into the Country. Came back sat down in the Railway waiting room went on to London. great stir at London Bridge got Mrs. R. &ce bundled into a Cab off to Welford Otheu & I went to have something to eat. parted & I went to the Waverly Hotel in Cheapside (German)

London Again

Wed: went through the tower

Waverley Hotel Cheapside

Wednesday Augt. 3rd. 1859

Went out after breakfast ordered two suits of clothes in Cloth mart Cheapside called at Morrison Dillons,Porter. Carr. Pears went [written above:walked] down to London Dock in the afternoon vessel not up turned in fell asleep instead of seeing Carr. wrote home

Thursday August 4th. 1859.

Went to tailors & to London Dock. Blackwall coach to Commercial road My traps passes after staying on bd. 2 or 3 hours. left a crape shawl. Cheated by humpers[?] & Cabman. [struck through: on to] took traps to Kings Cross & drove home Cabman 8/- a telegraph from Fred: stating come down by first train sister to be married tomorrow. Cash ex- pended had to wait till next day to cash a bill Clothes sent up this evg. met Anderson in Moorgate Street when walking out